Finding a greener route for transport refrigeration

[SINGAPORE] Transport company Hwee Jan has never stopped moving forward. It was founded in 1980 by Lim Hock Lock, who wanted to transform the automotive sector with cutting-edge air-conditioning systems.

“Entrepreneurship means needing to take risks – calculated risks,” said Lim.

The company started out providing automotive air-conditioning systems. In the 1990s, after it was appointed the sole distributor for Mitsubishi truck refrigeration systems, it started manufacturing its own insulated boxes.

Today, the company provides transport refrigeration, automotive air-conditioning and special-purpose vehicles, innovating over the years to meet clients’ needs.

“To navigate a rapidly changing economy, focusing on transformation, innovation, and sustainability is essential,” said Lim.

A recipient of the Enterprise 50 Award in 2023, Hwee Jan wants to set an inspiring example for other businesses and to demonstrate that even small enterprises can lead with innovation and sustainability despite resource constraints.

Lim also believes in maintaining good relations in the industry. “We take a friendly approach when working with our competitors and over time, we gain their respect.”

Ensuring value

At the core of Hwee Jan’s refrigeration truck business is a strong belief in creating value for its customers, with products tailored to their needs.

“Listening to our customers is a fundamental of the business,” said Lim. “The value of the product comes from listening to them.”

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The value of its services, he added, is in having a thorough understanding of customers’ needs and addressing them well.

For example, Hwee Jan adapted to customers’ requests in developing its own refrigeration truck.

Based on customer feedback, the company replaced the truck’s top shelf with a two-piece system that was lighter and more ergonomic for users.

By listening well and innovating consistently, Hwee Jan aims to provide the most value-for-money products to its customers.

This approach has helped the company to not only exceed expectations, but also build trust and confidence and create a strong and growing pool of loyal customers, said Lim.

Staying sustainable

Even as Hwee Jan helps clients keep their transported goods cool, it strives to stay green.

Its commitment to sustainability includes zero-waste initiatives and green manufacturing practices. It is also aligned with Singapore’s target to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

In its core operations, it has embedded eco-consciousness in two key areas: energy efficiency and recycling initiatives.

By installing solar panels, energy-efficient lighting, and advanced air-conditioning systems, Hwee Jan managed to cut carbon emissions by nearly 39.8 tonnes in 2023 alone. Meanwhile, it has rigorous recycling protocols that focus on the repair and reuse of materials such as hinges, door handles, and scrap metal.

This has significantly reduced waste, particularly in the form of PVC, plastic scrap, and extruded polystyrene foam boards.

Hwee Jan’s efforts have been recognised through accolades such as the Singapore Manufacturing Federation’s Sustainable Growth Award in 2018 and the Building and Construction Authority’s Green Mark Super Low Energy Award in 2024.

In other environmental, social and governance aspects, Hwee Jan also places emphasis on employee welfare and a healthy work culture.

Lim attributes the company’s success to its consultative style of leadership and open communication, saying: “The culture and our leadership is the key for our company to move forward.”

Leadership is about aligning employees’ goals with those of the company, he said. Hwee Jan conducts daily morning pep talks and weekly meetings to check on work progress and ensure employees stay accountable to their goals.

As Hwee Jan has a diverse workforce of different nationalities and backgrounds, an inclusive and transparent culture is also vital. Said Lim: “We are a melting pot of cultures. We have to build transparency and trust, regardless of your nationality or your position in the company.”

The commitment, hard work and contributions of staff are recognised through events such as its annual dinner and dance, team building and birthday celebrations.

Hwee Jan also has a strong philosophy of not being overly critical of employees. Said Lim: “Our company culture does not believe in reprimanding employees.”

“However, it is crucial that they are aware of the importance of learning from mistakes. Making mistakes is a learning process which allows us to improve one’s skills and knowledge, explore new ideas, new innovation and improve our product quality.”

As Hwee Jan navigates the future, it is committed to upholding its four core values: quality, competency, trustworthiness, and innovation. It aims to stay at the forefront of industry changes by upskilling its workforce and continuing to explore ways to serve new customer needs.

This series is part of the Enterprise 50 Educational Project between the E50 partners and the NUS Business School. Hwee Jan was among the winners in 2023. The annual E50 ranking is co-organised by The Business Times and KPMG, sponsored by OCBC Bank, and supported by Enterprise Singapore, Singapore Exchange and Singapore Business Federation.